You might think keeping a clean and tidy home is good for you, but in one sense new evidence has shown this might not be the case.

The use of everyday cleaning sprays can be as harmful to a woman's lungs as smoking 20 cigarettes a day, new research has shown. Interestingly, the effects were not displayed in men's lungs when subjected to the same testing.

The first study, in Norway, found lung capacity fell 4.3mls a year faster in women who cleaned at home and 7.1mls a year faster if they worked as cleaners. Asthma was also more prevalent.

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Cleaning products are as bad for your lungs as 20 cigarettes a day, but only for women a new study has found

Speaking about the findings, Prof Dr Cecile Svanes, of the University of Bergen, said: “Cleaning chemicals very likely cause rather substantial damage to your lungs.” She said sprays were usually unnecessary as a wet microfibre cloth was enough.

The second study, published at the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Austin, Texas, found 50 per cent of “volatile organic compounds” in the air in Los Angeles came from products such as paint, pesticides, bleach and perfumes.